Divorce Rates Rise Among Over-60s

The number of divorcees aged 60 and above has nearly doubled in the UK since 1990, new research from the think tank International Longevity Centre (ILC-UK) has revealed.

A study found that between 1990 and 2012, the number of people in this age group going through divorce increased by 85 per cent, and the figure is still rising.

ILC-UK predicts that by 2037, more than 22,000 people over 60 will experience divorce - accounting for one in ten of the total number of divorce cases.

According to the analysis, an ageing population is only part of the reason for the trend, as divorce rates among over-60s are also rising.

ILC-UK says this may be down to longer lifespans, people marrying later in life, rising financial independence among women, and changes in social attitudes toward divorce.

"The rising number of divorces amongst the over-60s is something that policymakers, charities and services providers should factor in when considering the potential vulnerabilities facing older people," says the report in its concluding remarks.

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